STEPHEN TIERNEY and Jonathan Tym were two police officers enjoying a Christmas party with their wives.

Off duty and casually dressed there should have been no need to fear the violence that plagues the streets they patrol at work.

But guests were left terrified when, fuelled by alcohol, the two officers lashed out and punched a man before dragging him across the floor by his tie.

Their 34-year-old victim was left lying unconscious with friction burns on his neck and onlookers, including a trained nurse, at first thought he was dead, a court heard yesterday.

But the officers escaped going to jail because they were not on duty. Judge Philip Hughes accepted the pair had not gone looking for trouble. Had they been on duty they would almost certainly have received custodial sentences, he said.

Sgt Stephen Tierney, 48, and PC Jonathan Tym, 45, both members of North Wales Police stationed at Wrexham, were each given 180-hour community punishment orders and ordered to pay #1,000 compensation to their victim, Michael Mayers.

Mr Mayers was present in court with his wife Louise.

The officers were also each ordered to pay #1,200 prosecution costs.

The two officers appeared for sentence at Warrington Crown Court after being found guilty of assault by a jury at Chester Crown Court last month.

Miss Bernadette Baxter, for Tierney, told the court her client was wracked by shame and embarrassment. He had made a very positive contribution to the community by serving as a police officer for 27 years.

He still faced a disciplinary hearing in June, the outcome of which was almost certain.

Tim Storrie, for Tym said his client had been in public service for nearly 30 years. In a few moments at a Christmas party he had thrown away the efforts of the whole of his adult life. As a police officer he would suffer more than most in the corrosive atmosphere of an overcrowded prison, the court heard.

The assault took place at a Christmas Party at Connah's Quay on December 20, 2003.

Judge Hughes said the pair punched Mr Mayers, brawled with him and dragged him by his tie across the function room floor and out into a corridor.

He was left unconscious on the floor with friction burns on his neck. Onlookers feared he had died until an experienced nurse who was a guest at the party managed to find a pulse. The result of the attack could have been much more serious.

However, Judge Hughes said he accepted that Mr Mayers had been affected by drink and had started the confrontation.

He told the officers, "Drink played a part on both sides.

"But by your excessive, unwarranted violence you turned an unpleasant confrontation into a bar room brawl.

"You clearly went over the top. I am treating you as two incompetent off-duty police officers who managed to make matters worse.

"But I am giving you both credit for your previous good character and am taking into account the glowing testimonials given to the jury. I am satisfied it was an isolated incident."

The officers now face disci-plinary action by North Wales Police.

After the case yesterday, North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Ian Shannon said, "Both officers were convicted of assault at the Crown Court in Chester.

"Following their convictions they have been suspended from duty and will appear before a misconduct hearing in due course."